Town Pop. 47,585

Living in Washington: Liveability Score 62/100

Last updated 7 August 2026

Washington comes out at 62/100 on the 9 categories we can score here. Schools is where Washington most outperforms the national norm: 75/100 against a median of 23/100 across UK towns. Furthest below the national norm is safety, at 45/100 against a town median of 88/100.

That sits 12 points above the UK-wide average of 50, putting it in the top 5% of the towns and villages we score. Wider context for the surrounding area: NE37 postcode district.

OUT OF 100

Average

Score for:

Settlement area

The built-up area boundary and the postcodes its score is averaged from, each shaded by its own score. Clustered pins are other settlements. Tap one to view or compare it, or zoom in to reveal more.

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Each postcode is coloured by its own overall score on the default weighting. Scores are filled in as postcodes get searched on the site, so a blue dot just means that postcode hasn't been scored yet.

Washington scores 62 but individual postcodes tell the full story

See the exact score for any postcode, side by side with Washington.

Or compare:

NE37 1AA NE37 2AA NE37 3AB NE37 9AR NE37 NE38 NE85 SR4

Score breakdown

Safety & Environment

Safety

98.8 crimes per 1,000 residents · last 12 months Above the England & Wales average of 94.3

Crime rate vs national average · last 12 months

Violence and sexual offences 1,529 crimes

≈ similar to national average

Anti-social behaviour 772 crimes

≈ similar to national average

Shoplifting 539 crimes

↑ 45% above national average

Criminal damage and arson 467 crimes

↑ 44% above national average

Public order 304 crimes

≈ similar to national average

other 1,089 crimes

Highest-crime locations

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1 Parking Area 289 crimes
2 Bus/Coach Station 240 crimes
3 Supermarket 127 crimes

Source: data.police.uk · England & Wales only

Environment

Air Quality NO₂ 10.9 · PM2.5 6.3 · PM10 10.5 µg/m³

Green Space 59

Parks Ample 23

Sports Pitches Ample 36

Allotments Ample 12

Golf Courses Ample 4

Tennis Courts Ample 13

Bowling Greens Adequate 3

Playgrounds Ample 19

Services

Schools

Top 10 by Ofsted rating · 30 in area · 32 within 4km

3Outstanding25Good1Requires Improvement1Ungraded

Columbia Grange SchoolSpecial · inspected 2020
Outstanding
Oxclose Nursery SchoolNursery · inspected 2024
Outstanding
St John Boste Catholic Primary School, WashingtonPrimary · inspected 2024
Outstanding
Albany Village Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
Good
Barley Mow Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Barmston Village Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2023
Good
Biddick AcademySecondary · inspected 2021
Good
Biddick Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2024
Good
Blackfell Primary SchoolPrimary · inspected 2021
Good
Fatfield AcademyPrimary · inspected 2024
Good

Ungraded: inspected, but Ofsted no longer issues a single overall grade (since Sept 2024).

Score reflects proximity-weighted access to rated schools within 4km: areas with more nearby schools score higher regardless of settlement boundary.

Healthcare

A&E departmentsSunderland Primary care Trust1.3 mi

Queen Elizabeth Hospital2 mi

South Tyneside District Hospital4.2 mi

Hospital waitsSouth Tyneside And Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust0.5 mi

Routine referral (median)8 wks

Treated within 18 weeks76.6%

A&E seen within 4 hrs77.7%

7 GP surgeries in area 9 within 4km best 'Outstanding'

GP capacity1,586 patients per GP

8dentists7pharmacies

Score reflects proximity to CQC-rated GP surgeries and hospitals, not facility count. Dentists and pharmacies are shown for context but don't affect the score.

Broadband

Full fibre (FTTP)71.6%

available across Sunderland

Gigabit-capable · incl. cable

94.1%

Ultrafast (300+ Mbps)

94.4%

Superfast (30+ Mbps)

98.6%

Ofcom Connected Nations · 1,043 postcodes · full fibre at local-authority level

Economy & Bills

Economic Health

Employment rate52.2%

Below the Great Britain average of 57.3% of residents aged 16+

Economic activity (16+)

Employed52.2%Unemployed3.5%Retired27.6%Student3.8%Other inactive12.9%

Occupation mix

Professional & managerial31.7%Skilled & technical32.3%Routine & elementary36%

Highest qualification (16+)

No qualifications21.2%Level 1 (1–4 GCSEs)11.8%Level 2 (5+ GCSEs)16.4%Level 3 (A levels)17.1%Level 4+ (degree & above)23.8%Apprenticeship7%Other (incl. vocational)2.7%

Home ownership60.2%

Among the most-deprived 39% of areas in England

Census 2021/22 (Great Britain) · deprivation: IoD 2025 / SIMD

Bills

Council tax Sunderland · 2026-27

A £1,465

B £1,709

C £1,953

D £2,197

E £2,685

F £3,173

G £3,662

H £4,394

Energy North East England region

Typical bill regional £1,641/yr

Ofgem price cap, GB average · Apr–Jun 2026

Typical home efficiency local EPC band C

Water Northumbrian Water

Average bill regional £435/yr

Combined water & sewerage · GB average £520

Transport

South Hylton 3 mi

Pelaw 3.6 mi

Heworth 3.7 mi

J1 A194(M) 1.3 mi

J1 A194(M) 1.4 mi

J65 A1(M) 1.5 mi

Lifestyle

Pubs & Bars Ample 31

Restaurants & Cafes Ample 20

Supermarkets & Convenience Ample 35

Retail Shopping Ample 158

Takeaways Ample 46

Fitness Adequate 3

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House Prices

Current median sale prices · last 12 months · England & Wales only

Type	Median price	Sales
All dwellings	£159,950	259
Detached	£313,750	58
Semi-detached	£171,000	93
Terraced	£125,000	85
Flat / Maisonette	£36,000	23

5-year monthly trend

All Detached Semi Terraced Flat

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data (OGL v3.0)

Frequently asked questions

Is Washington a nice place to live?

Washington is a decent place to live for many people. Our liveability score for Washington is 62/100, placing it among an average areas in the UK across nine categories: safety, schools, healthcare, environment, transport, broadband, lifestyle, economic health, and bills.

How safe is Washington?

Washington has crime levels around the national average. Our safety score is 45/100. There were 4,700 crimes recorded in the area over the past 12 months.

What are the best schools in Washington?

Among the top-rated schools in Washington are Columbia Grange School, Oxclose Nursery School and St John Boste Catholic Primary School, Washington, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There are 30 rated schools in Washington in total.

What are house prices like in Washington?

The current median house price in Washington is £159,950, around 44% below the England and Wales average. By property type: detached £313,750, semi-detached £171,000, terraced £125,000, flat £36,000. Over the past five years, prices have risen by around 22%. There were 259 sales recorded in the past 12 months.